Oppo----DV-983H DVD, CD player review

laatsch55

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#1
Got the oppo hiiked up. Bought it on a recommendation from Joe. Now I don't have what I consider a slouch in the CD department, those being the Onix CD-15, CD-1. Those were acquired on a recommendation from the Larrt.

There are a few Joe (Gepetto) quotes around here, one being--"Old digital is just old digital" Man if he wasn't right. I've got a couple Onix for sale, the HORNS are getting a workout today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A more detailed review later, during a cooloff and ear ret period, right now I'm GONE, and you know where.....sublimely insane power levels................
 

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Elite-ist

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I am interested in any differences you might hear with the Oppo, compared to the Onyx , Lee. Oppo is are a brand gathering audio attention these days. Nando.
 

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A preliminary assessment is that the soundstgage is "bigger" and the "breakup" at higher frequencies is not as prevalent, and the bass is "tighter". By tighter bass I mean during a long steady bass note it's heard as a succession of individual bass notes , not a smooth blending of them, if that makes any sense. The onix did all the above extremely well, but during my first round here the Oppo appears to sound better. Course it was through the Oppo I heard my first bit of music today....
 

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#4
Got the oppo hiiked up. Bought it on a recommendation from Joe. Now I don't have what I consider a slouch in the CD department, those being the Onix CD-15, CD-1. Those were acquired on a recommendation from the Larrt.

There are a few Joe (Gepetto) quotes around here, one being--"Old digital is just old digital" Man if he wasn't right. I've got a couple Onix for sale, the HORNS are getting a workout today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


A more detailed review later, during a cooloff and ear ret period, right now I'm GONE, and you know where.....sublimely insane power levels................
I have been known to say that, at least once. Lee now go get yourself some great SACD's for a real listening experience. One awesomely mastered SACD is Getz/Gilberto. I know you listen to the jazzy genre of music every now and then. This one is a treat. You will think the Girl from Ipanema is in your listening room.
 

laatsch55

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That's what I was lookin for, which SACD to buy first. Joe do you stay with the mixdown to stereo only or do you mix it up and experiment with the 5.1 and 7.1 option?
 

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A preliminary assessment is that the soundstgage is "bigger" and the "breakup" at higher frequencies is not as prevalent, and the bass is "tighter". By tighter bass I mean during a long steady bass note it's heard as a succession of individual bass notes , not a smooth blending of them, if that makes any sense. The onix did all the above extremely well, but during my first round here the Oppo appears to sound better. Course it was through the Oppo I heard my first bit of music today....
That breakup in the high frequencies is the phase distortion that I hate on normal CD playback. SACD gets rid of this by sampling at very high rates compared to red book (and oversampling as well) and moving the brick wall filter to 80KHz instead of 20KHz.

Assuming that the master is from analog, this annoying CD artifact will be GONE!
 

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That's what I was lookin for, which SACD to buy first. Joe do you stay with the mixdown to stereo only or do you mix it up and experiment with the 5.1 and 7.1 option?
I have both Lee but really prefer the stereo.
 

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#8
You know that I am an Alison Krauss fan. Her music on Rounder SACD is phenomenal. The bad news is that these CDs are out of print for 3+ years and the prices for these are over $300 a copy these days. I have 2 of her SACDs but I missed the boat on getting the rest before the prices skyrocketed.
 

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If you assume a properly mastered & encoded SACD and capable equipment, everything should sound better - spectrum wise and with more dynamics - versus a redbook CD - even to older dirt bags like ourselves.
More dynamic range (greater than 10 db), about four times the data rate and just as important - more data to support the recording behind the rate because the disc is at a DVD capacity point.
Stuwee hooked me up with an Elton John disc a few years back and I was floored how well it sounded and it was a hybrid.

If you are into Pink Floyd, 'Wish You Were Here' is an amazing disc to do comparisons with Lee..
 
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Gepetto

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#10
If you assume a properly mastered & encoded SACD and capable equipment, everything should sound better - spectrum wise and with more dynamics - versus a redbook CD - even to older dirt bags like ourselves.
More dynamic range (greater than 10 db), about four times the data rate and just as important - more data to support the recording behind the rate because the disc is at a DVD capacity point.
Stuwee hooked me up with an Elton John disc a few years back and I was floored how well it sounded and it was a hybrid.

If you are into Pink Floyd, 'Wish You Were Here' is an amazing disc to do comparisons with Lee..
Second that, the Pink Floyd is a great SACD. Watch for radial cracks in that SACD, they had a production problem that upset a lot of folks that purchased them.
 

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#11
Steely Dan's "Gaucho" is another SACD title worth having, too. Nando.
 

laatsch55

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Thanks guys. I'm pretty impressed with just the redbook improvement. Can't omagine what a SACD will sound like. Joe thanks for confirming that hi freq stuff. It wasn't just there and gone, always at certain frequencies.
 

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#13
Steely Dan's "Gaucho" is another SACD title worth having, too. Nando.
I still have the cassette mom and dad gave me over 31 or two years ago for Christmas when it was new.

If we are LUCKY *they canceled the last Boise stop due to poor sales in the Northwest* they are going to come in August I believe it is.
 
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